memorial weekend

Dort had me pull off 280 in Daly City as we drove south to the Peninsula. She wanted to pay tribute to her husband at his resting place.

We drove around the big military cemetery looking for the grave. Thousands of little American flags planted by Boy Scouts and larger ones lining the road for Memorial Day flapped in the breeze. The gentle wind, sunny sky and green grass sloped down from the top of the cemetery toward the Bay.

We stopped a couple places. Dort got out and read the names on the white tombstones. Everything looked the same. Finally she signaled me. They had removed the tree that used to show her where her husband lay. Only a flat stump remained.

Dort said she felt better that the tree was gone because the roots made her uncomfortable. I got uncomfortable hearing that, visualizing tree roots burrowing into Uncle Ski's casket.

There are women buried there, too. Dort said they were the wives of service members. I did not ask if Dort would be buried there. She later said the place is full, though, so that answers that question.